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New contract for Jen Beattie

Jennifer Beattie has agreed a deal which extends her stay at Manchester City Women.

The defender has put pen to paper on a new contract, which will see her remain at the Academy Stadium for another two years.

A 99-cap Scotland international, the 26-year-old arrived in Manchester in January 2015 from Montpellier and has played a key role what has proved to be a successful period for the Club.

Beattie’s first season saw the Blues seal Champions League football for the first time and in the trophy-laden campaign that followed, she remained an integral part of Nick Cushing’s squad.

Forming a watertight defensive partnership with Steph Houghton, the Glasgow native made 12 starts as City were crowned FA WSL Champions for the first time, conceding only four goals in the process.

There was a clean-sheet in the Continental Cup final too, as Beattie and her team-mates secured a domestic double, which became a treble with the FA Cup added to the collection at Wembley in May 2017.

Quite a two-and-a-half years for City’s No. 5 then, which is why there’s nowhere she’d rather be.

“I’m excited,” she said, regarding her future.

“I’ve had a different summer to expected but I feel settled and I’m looking forward to the next season already.

“I knew I always wanted to stay. It’s obviously the best club in Britain and across Europe we managed to establish ourselves in the Champions League.

“We missed out in the Lyon games so that’s something I want to continue to be a part of. So, yeah, it was an easy one (decision).

“I feel like it was the best decision coming here and I have every faith that it will be the best decision to stay as well.

“Physically and mentally, here is where I need to be, to be at my best and play my best football.”

That will be music to the ears of manager Cushing, who is thrilled to have a player, who impresses with both her talent and attitude, on board for a further two years.

"Jen is a top player who really cares about the game,” he added.

“She wants to play and to win, and she knows that takes hard work and dedication. We are absolutely delighted to have her at Manchester City for another two years."

And in that two years, there’s no doubt in Beattie’s mind as to what the aim must be for the reigning FA WSL champions.

The centre-half is unequivocal in her belief that the ambition of Manchester City Women will always be to add to the trophy cabinet and, with three league titles to her name, says she is more motivated now than ever to add to her trophy haul

“The aim will always be trophies,” she declared.

“I think anyone who has won stuff finds motivation the easiest part.

“The hardest part is winning but being motivated is always quite easy. As soon as you get a taste, the hunger never really dies for it.

“The Champions League is massive. It’s important to any club. Any club, player, staff, management wants to be playing and achieving at the highest level and that’s exactly why I wanted to stay here.

“The gains we’ve made over a short space of time, it’s hopefully on the radar to win it soon.”